An Interview with Eve Elliot

Eve Elliot is a Canadian/Irish author of over a dozen published short stories and a self-published romance novel. She has also written and produced a full-cast radio drama in homage to Agatha Christie entitled The Death of Doctor Davidson. She is currently completing her chapter-by-chapter release of her latest novel with the working title Noah and Kate, which is supported entirely by fans on Patreon.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I have always enjoyed telling emotionally rich, funny, heartwarming and yet sexy stories, and this idea came to me in scenes that I eventually wove together to form a book. I struggled to keep working on it about half way through, and so I came up with the idea of releasing it a chapter at a time to fans of the project (I had been releasing recordings and text versions of it on various audio platforms) and asking for a $1 a month donation to keep me motivated. Knowing that someone had paid even $1 for this month’s chapter made me feel a sense of obligation to get it done and release it. I’d say this plan has been largely responsible for why I am now about four chapters away from finishing the book.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I only have the working title of Noah and Kate at the moment, because part of the benefits I give my Patreon supporters, along with chances to win ‘walk-on’ parts featuring their name, a signed book at the end, etc is that they will be the ones to decide the final title from a poll.

Describe your dream book cover.

For a tender romance like this one, I picture a couple with their heads together, smiling, and possibly the town of Cedar Lake (where the book is set) in the background, to give readers the immediate sense of where this takes place and whom it’s about.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I do have a soundtrack! I do for all my writing projects. In this case, I even mention some of these songs in the story. “Slide” by the Goo Goo Dolls and “Life After You” by Daughtry are two songs that really capture the feel of this book for me.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I’m reading The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith, and The Iliad by Homer.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have been a journalist, professional photographer, and now a voiceover actress. I narrate audio books and do various voice projects like commercials, video games, etc. I have been able to do my own audio versions of my work, which is a great help.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I have been telling myself little stories since I was about four or five. I was so grateful to my grade one teacher for teaching me how to print that I printed out a wobbly little thank you note to her—it meant that now I could write down the stories in my head. I have always read a wide variety of writers, and focused on the classics, but Jane Austen certainly inspired me with her wit and cleverness, and currently Tana French is a great inspiration for writing procedural novels.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I have a desk set up by a sunny window, and when I put on my headphones and can manage to shoo the cats away, I find it a very pleasant way to get through 1500 or 2000 words a day. Sometimes though, I am equally as comfortable on the couch;the place doesn’t really matter so much as the moments I have to write, undisturbed.

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really, because I found that if I ever did insist on having a cup of tea beside me, or a certain song playing, etc it ended up being something to put in my way of actually getting down to writing. I wanted to make sure I was able to write without any lore surrounding it, so that now if I do put on a playlist, it’s not a necessary part of the process, it’s just a nice addition.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope my readers take away a renewed belief in romantic love, and a warm sense of having met two people they are happy to see end up together. My perfect reader is a hopeless romantic with a sense of humour!

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.